Planning Matters

No. You will recall that a proposal to virtually rebuild 2 Glen Head at Limb Lane (near the picnic area) was reported in the last issue of Dore to Door. The Society objected because of the excessive size of the development and the harm on the adjoining dwelling and the visual amenities of the area, particularly as the property is in Green Belt. Thankfully we have to report that the Planning Board turned the application down on those grounds although a subsequent application has now been submitted.

Yes. Sadly planning consent has been granted for one dwelling house in the garden of 18 Gilleyfield Avenue. The siting of the house is to be fronting onto Savage Lane with a vehicular access onto Savage Lane on the very tight bend below the Village Green. This is a difficult corner at the best of times. Some of the trees, which form closure at this point and are part of Busheywood, will certainly be lost.

Meanwhile the mobile ‘phone masts march on across our landscape. The application for a further mast at Abbeydale Sports Ground, reported in the last issue, has been approved.

Maybe. An application to rebuild the Clubhouse at Dore and Totley Tennis Club on Devonshire Road has just been approved. There was a very big turnout of objectors at the original Planning Board meeting, where a decision was deferred.

Sometime. The reports in the local newspaper on the planning application for development of Long Acre, Newfield Lane, the property previously owned by Mr Hinchcliffe are a bit premature (at the time of us going to press) as the application in its present form is invalid and cannot be considered.

The application was made on behalf of Westbury Homes Ltd for detached houses and a three storey block of flats on the site. When the application is formalised there will undoubtedly be some serious concerns particularly in relation to the height of the flats and the proposed road access into Newfield Lane. The informality of Newfield Lane and its strategic importance forming the edge of the Green Belt would be destroyed if it was brought up to residential highway standards.

Oh Dear! There is an application to redevelop 55 Busheywood Road, converting it from a bungalow to a dwelling house. Proposals such as this are not uncommon, there is one already completed lower down on Busheywood Road, and one in the process of conversion on Causeway Head Road (to which the Society objected).

In some instances such conversions are not unreasonable, but the Society take the view that the current proposal is an over development of the site and the house will tower over the adjoining bungalow on the side of the road where single storey properties predominate. Most of these applications are by developers, made with the intention of resale. Strangely there is a shortage of bungalows on the South West side of the City, primarily because Earl Fitzwilliam the former landowner of virtually the whole of Eccleshall, would not permit bungalows on estate lands.

Green Belt. There is a planning application for the conversion of existing farm buildings to form 6 residential units with garages and erection of 2 dwelling houses at Moorside Farm Long Line. This farm is in the middle of fields off the Hathersage Road. The applicants have already done some development here, but the proposal flouts all the principles of Green Belt policy and would be a severe intrusion into the Green Belt if allowed to proceed. The Society have rigorously objected to the proposals and trust that the Planning Authority will uphold the protection of the Green Belt here.

David Heslop

The Wildlife Garden

Taking part in the British Trust for Ornithology's (BTO) Sparrow Survey last year was one of the most depressing things I have ever done as a naturalist.

In itself the survey was quite simple: all I had to do was walk up and down the roads and paths in my assigned kilometre square, twice in May, once in October and make a note of all the sparrows I encountered - as well as any sparrowhawks, magpies and cats. My kilometre square centred on Twentywell Lane and included a large chunk of the golf course, the railway cutting, scrub, tracts of woodland and built up areas in Bradway.

You may have thought that such a mixture of habitats would be perfect for sparrows, so what did I find? First of all I discovered just how difficult it is to survey birds in an urban environment. In the woodland fringes it was relatively easy, as not only was I usually able to see them, I could also listen to bird calls and songs to get a good idea of just what species were present. Unfortunately, roads like Twentywell are so busy these days that the noise from traffic drowns out all but the loudest bird sounds, so I ended up having to rely on identifying them by sight alone.

The other problem is, just how do you survey the birds in someone's garden? Although it would have been very useful to visit the gardens in my survey area, this was hardly feasible. I had enough strange looks from householders as I walked down their road armed with a clipboard and binoculars - you can imagine what the reaction would have been if I had tried to get access to their gardens! All I could do was observe as discreetly as possible from the adjoining roads and paths.

In May it was relatively easy to spot the sparrows, as males were chattering on roof tops trying to attract mates and I would see females flying with their beaks' full of nesting material. What I did find disheartening was just how few of these birds I actually counted in my survey square - the highest number was 26. However in October, there were hardly any sparrows to be seen, they were all hiding in hedges and I only caught the occasional glimpse of one as it broke cover - usually to visit a nearby seed holder. During all three surveys I never saw any in the golf course grounds; none along the railway cutting; none in the scrub and none in the woodland.

There were other birds in these four areas: magpies and crows in and around the golf course; woodpigeons in the cutting; blackbirds and robins in the scrub; gaggles of tits, woodpeckers and tree creepers in the woods, but all the sparrows were in gardens, especially those with large, thick hedges. Could the fate of sparrows in our cities be linked to something as simple as to how many thick hedges there are?

Of course on its own my limited survey can't provide a definitive answer, but despite all its faults, it did show me just how important big, thick hedges are for our urban birds. My garden is surrounded by broad, two metre high privet hedges and I regularly get upwards of thirty garrulous sparrows using them as a safe haven, flitting in and out to visit the seed holders. I was hoping to reduce the height of these hedges substantially as they are so difficult to keep trimmed. However, I now realise I will have to leave them like this for the birds and continue my seasonal battle with the hedge-clippers, and that is perhaps the most depressing thing of all!

Jack Daw

Against Supertram

In view of the suggested Supertram Route, a group of people along the affected corridor have formed an action group to give serious examination to the proposal and its effects upon that corridor. The group is known as S.W.A.T. - South West Against the Tram, and is working closely with Friends of Millhouses Park who are also opposed to the Tram extension route.

Initial indications, from meetings, discussions and petition gathering (300 signatures against) give the overall opinion that the proposed Tram extension is not needed beyond a certain point, and that little detailed thought has been given to the proposal, other than to draw a "line on the map".

The extension is planned to stop at Dore Station, and in light of this, the common sense view is that it is unnecessary to extend beyond Millhouses Park due to the low population density along the rest of the stretch to Dore Station.

The devastation to the environment, ecology, recreation, historical and residential aspects of this corridor would be enormous. Safety is also of major concern, especially with Trams traversing the much loved and widely used Millhouses Park. Public Transport beyond Dore station towards Totley would be affected if the Tram takes passengers away from the buses - Bus companies obviously not wanting to operate unprofitable routes. The "green" credentials of this scheme are also suspect in that car journeys will still have to be made in order to access the Tram.

Indeed, the general view is that more investment should be directed towards the Railway, with more frequent local trains and an additional station at Totley Brook - exactly what the Council themselves Proposed in the U.D.P Plan of 1998! Needless to say this would cost far less than the Tram extension and create much less disruption and permanent blight to the local environment.

Unfortunately the Consultation Period for local people to give their views is drawing to a close and all submissions for consideration must be received by 26th February. Therefore it is imperative that if you have a view on this matter you must write to S.Y.P.T.E. before this closing date. We urge you to do so. This unnecessary and ill thought out scheme needs to be consigned to history.

Please write to: Pam Horner, Supertram Extensions, S.Y.P.T.E., P.O. Box 801, Exchange Street, Sheffield. S2 5YT.

Jackie Waller S.W.A.T (262 1354)